The History of Writing - Where the Story Begins - Extra History
TLDRThis script explores the fascinating origins of writing, tracing it back to ancient Sumer where the first widespread use of writing began. It details how the need to record transactions in temple warehouses led to the development of cuneiform, the first systematic writing system. The evolution from pictograms to abstract symbols, the adaptation of Sumerian to Akkadian and Elamite, and the transition from top-to-bottom to left-to-right writing are highlighted. The script also touches on the preservation of clay tablets and the possibility of independent development of writing in other civilizations, inviting viewers to ponder the rich history of the written word.
Takeaways
- ๐ Writing is a transformative technology that has allowed humans to communicate across time and space for over five thousand years.
- ๐บ The history of writing began in ancient Sumer, where the first widespread use of writing was closely tied to the temple complexes and their economic functions.
- ๐๏ธ Temples in Sumer were not only religious centers but also served as massive warehouses managing the city's resources and wealth.
- ๐ The need to keep records of the vast amounts of goods moving in and out of the temples led to the development of early writing systems.
- ๐๏ธ Early writing started with simple tally marks and pictographs, which over time became more abstract and symbolic.
- ๐ฎ The Sumerian language's mono-syllabic words facilitated the transition from pictographs to representing sounds and concepts.
- ๐ถ The Sumerians' linguistic structure allowed for the creation of more complex ideas by combining basic words, which further advanced the writing system.
- ๐ The medium of clay tablets influenced the direction of writing, leading to the development of writing from left to right and the eventual abstraction of characters.
- ๐ The innovation of writing direction and character rotation was a response to the practical issues of writing on clay, which dried slowly and could be easily smudged.
- ๐ The Sumerian writing system was adopted and further abstracted by neighboring civilizations, leading to the addition of determinatives and other features.
- ๐ฅ The durability of clay allowed for the preservation of early writing, providing evidence of the development of language and the history of human communication.
Q & A
What is the main topic of discussion in the script?
-The main topic of discussion is the history of the concept of the written word and how it originated in ancient Sumer.
How has writing impacted humanity according to the script?
-Writing has allowed humans to transmit thoughts over generations, give instructions, express themselves, and communicate ideas across space and time, leading to vast strides in understanding the universe, each other, and ourselves.
Why did the temples in ancient Sumer play a significant role in the development of writing?
-The temples in ancient Sumer were central to the city-states, serving as both religious centers and enormous warehouses for the city's wealth. The need to keep records of the vast amounts of goods moving in and out of these temples led to the development of writing systems.
How did the Sumerian economy contribute to the creation of writing?
-The Sumerian economy, with its large cities and complex trade, required a system to keep track of the supplies and wealth moving in and out of the temple complexes. This need for record-keeping led to the creation of writing as a tool for organization and accountability.
What was the initial purpose of the clay tablet and tally marks in Sumerian record-keeping?
-The initial purpose of the clay tablet and tally marks was to keep records of goods and supplies brought into the temple complexes, allowing priests to know exactly what they had on hand.
How did the Sumerian language influence the development of their writing system?
-The Sumerian language, with its mono-syllabic words and concept-building structure, made it easier for symbols to represent not only objects but also the sounds of words, leading to the development of a more abstract and versatile writing system.
What was the 'happy accident' of linguistics mentioned in the script?
-The 'happy accident' of linguistics refers to the fact that Sumerian had many mono-syllabic words, which facilitated the transition from symbols representing objects to symbols representing the sounds of words, thus enabling the expression of more complex ideas.
How did the medium of writing on clay tablets influence the direction and appearance of early writing?
-Writing on clay tablets initially proceeded from top to bottom, but due to the time it took for the clay to dry, this method was prone to smudging. To avoid this, scribes began writing from left to right and rotated the characters by 90 degrees, leading to a more abstract and standardized writing system that was easier to read and write.
What is the significance of the evolution of Sumerian writing in the development of Western writing systems?
-The evolution of Sumerian writing, from pictograms to abstract symbols and the change in writing direction, laid the foundation for later writing systems, including those used in Western cultures today.
How has the longevity of the written word been demonstrated?
-The longevity of the written word is demonstrated by its survival for more than five and a half thousand years, as well as through the preservation of Sumerian clay tablets that hardened and were preserved when cities were burned down.
What other regions are mentioned as having developed writing independently or possibly inheriting the concept from Sumer?
-Mesoamerica and China are mentioned as having developed writing independently, while there is contention about whether the Indus Valley and Egypt inherited the concept of writing from Sumer.
Outlines
๐ The Birth of Writing and Its Evolution
This paragraph delves into the origins of writing, highlighting its development from a practical necessity for record-keeping in ancient Sumerian city-states to a sophisticated system for conveying complex ideas. It begins with the first uses of writing by temple administrators to track goods and resources, evolving from simple tally marks to pictographs and eventually to abstract symbols. The paragraph explains how the Sumerian language's characteristics, with its mono-syllabic words and concept-building, facilitated this evolution. It also touches on the transition from clay tablets to a writing medium that changed the direction of writing and the abstraction of characters, leading to the creation of a true writing system that could express abstract concepts and literature, such as The Epic of Gilgamesh.
๐ The Spread and Abstraction of Writing Systems
This paragraph discusses the spread of the Sumerian writing system to neighboring civilizations, such as the Akkadians and Elamites, and how they further abstracted the system. It introduces the concept of determinatives to clarify parts of speech and acknowledges the preservation of writing on clay, which has allowed modern understanding of ancient texts. The paragraph concludes by acknowledging other independent developments of writing, such as in Mesoamerica and China, and speculates on the origins of writing in the Indus Valley and Egypt. It invites viewer engagement and hints at future exploration of the evolution of writing, including the development of the alphabet used by Western cultures.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กWritten Word
๐กSumer
๐กCuneiform
๐กTemples
๐กIrrigation
๐กPictograms
๐กLanguage Evolution
๐กDeterminatives
๐กGilgamesh
๐กAlphabet
๐กPreservation of Writing
Highlights
Writing is one of mankind's most enduring technologies with a history spanning over five to six hundred years.
The ability to transmit thoughts and communicate ideas over generations has been pivotal in our understanding of the universe and each other.
The first widespread use of writing originated in ancient Sumer.
Sumerian cities were the world's first real cities with tens of thousands of people grouped together.
Temples in Sumer played a significant role in the genesis of writing, serving not only as religious centers but also as vast warehouses.
The need to keep records of the temple's vast wealth led to the development of writing systems.
Early writing began with simple tally marks made on clay tablets to track goods and supplies.
Over generations, the pictorial representations of goods became more abstract, evolving into symbols for entire concepts.
The Sumerian language, with its mono-syllabic words, facilitated the transition from symbols to representing sounds.
The creation of a writing system allowed for the expression of complex ideas and the recording of literature like The Epic of Gilgamesh.
The medium of clay influenced the direction of writing, leading to the development of writing from left to right.
The innovation of writing from left to right required characters to be rotated 90 degrees for easier reading.
The Sumerian writing system was adopted and further abstracted by neighboring civilizations like the Akkadians and Elamites.
Determinatives were added to the writing system to clarify parts of speech and reduce ambiguity.
The evolution of writing from pictograms toๆฅๅฝขๆๅญ allowed for the expression of abstract and complex ideas.
The preservation of writing on clay has allowed us to understand the development of this ancient technology.
Writing developed independently in Mesoamerica and China, and possibly the Indus Valley and Egypt.
The history of writing is a testament to the enduring legacy of the Sumerian civilization and its impact on human communication.
Transcripts
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